[1] Purpose
The general science program is designed for students planning to enter interdisciplinary fields; to enter medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, or other allied health fields; or to undertake other programs requiring a general scientific background. Students who intend to do graduate work in a specific scientific field are advised to major in that field.
[2] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science
The bachelor of science degree, with a major in General Science, requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) BS degree requirements; (3) major requirements listed below; and (4) a minor approved by the student’s minor advisor (the following minors may not be used with the general science major: biology, chemistry, physics, physical science).
UD = Upper Division
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry
Z = Capstone Experience
Courses required for the BS in General Science might not satisfy the UCA Upper Division Core requirements. Students may choose any upper-division courses with the appropriate designations (C, D, I and R) to satisfy these requirements. It is recommended that they consider courses in their minor to satisfy the Upper Division Core. There is currently no Capstone Course in the General Science BS program. Students must take a capstone experience course (courses designated with a Z in the bulletin) as part of their minor or complete the prerequisites necessary to enroll in the capstone experience course in biology, chemistry or physics.
Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in General Science / Option A enter the College Algebra Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1390 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit for MATH 1390. Students majoring in General Science / Option B with an ACT Math subscore between 22 and 26 should enroll in MATH 1486 Calculus Preparation. Students with an ACT Math subscore of 27 or greater should enroll in MATH 1496 Calculus I.
[2.1] Major in General Science
The basis of the General Science BS consists of a three-semester sequence of courses in each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Required courses
BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
BIOL 2490 Genetics
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry or CHEM 3520 Quantitative Analysis
PHYS 1420 College Physics II or PHYS 1442 University Physics II
PHYS 2411 College Astronomy or PHYS 2430 College Physics III or PHYS 2443 University Physics III
To complete the General Science degree requirements, student must complete either Option A or Option B below.
Option A (52 hours)
4 hours of CHEM electives at the 3000-level or higher
4 additional hours of either BIOL or CHEM electives at the 3000-level or higher (BIOL 4340, CHEM 4112, CHEM 4290, and CHEM 4301 are excluded).
MATH 1491 Applied Calculus for the Life Sciences or MATH 1496 Calculus I
Option B* (56 hours)
4 hours of PHYS electives at the 3000-level or higher
4 additional hours of either CHEM or PHYS electives at the 3000-level or higher (CHEM 4112, CHEM 4290, CHEM 4301, and PHYS 4360 are excluded).
MATH 1496 Calculus I
MATH 1497 Calculus II
* Students selecting Option B must complete PHYS 2430 or PHYS 2443.